Toyota Comfort
| Toyota Comfort (XS10) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Kanto Auto Works[1] |
| Also called | Toyota Crown Comfort Toyota Crown Sedan |
| Production | 1995–2017 |
| Assembly | Japan: Susono, Shizuoka (Higashi Fuji plant)[2] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size car |
| Body style | 4-door notchback sedan |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Related | Toyota Mark II (X80) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
|
| Transmission | |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase |
|
| Length |
|
| Width | 1,695 mm (66.7 in) |
| Height | 1,525 mm (60.0 in) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor |
|
| Successor | Toyota JPN Taxi/Comfort Hybrid |
The Toyota Comfort (Japanese: トヨタ・コンフォート, Hepburn: Toyota Konfōto) is a mid-size sedan produced by Toyota between 1995 and 2017. A platform derivative of the Toyota Mark II (X80), the Comfort was aimed at fleet buyers with a primary focus on taxicab operators.[4][5] A long-wheelbase version called Toyota Crown Comfort was available in Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, while a better-appointed version of the model called Crown Sedan (not to be confused with the Crown executive car) was released in 2001 for the Japanese market only.[6]
Its main competitors were the Nissan Crew (discontinued in June 2009) and the Nissan Cedric Y31 (discontinued in 2015). In early 2017 it was announced that production of the Comfort would cease on May 25, 2017, after 22 years in production.[citation needed] It was replaced by the Toyota JPN Taxi which was launched at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show in October 2017.[7]
Description
The Comfort and Crown Comfort were released on December 19, 1995 as replacements for the base fleet versions of the Mark II and the larger but unrelated Crown, respectively.[5] Both the Comfort and Crown Comfort were offered in five-seat and six-seat configurations, the latter of which features a split front bench in place of bucket seats. Five-seat Comforts could be equipped with either a column-mounted or floor-mounted gear lever, while the six-seat models were only equipped with column shifters. Super Deluxe models were offered exclusively in five-seat configurations. The Japanese model has standard fender mirrors while a remote control rear passenger door, actuated by the driver through a series of mechanical linkages, is standard in both Hong Kong and Japan.
Markets
According to a report in 2011, Toyota has sold 364,000 Comforts since 1995. The model was a popular taxicab in Japan, where it was also commonly used for driver's education, and Hong Kong.
In Singapore, the implementation of Euro IV emission requirements forced taxi companies to remove Crown Comforts from service in 2014.[8] Most units were scrapped but a handful were stripped of their drivetrains and donated to the healthcare industry for use in rehabilitation.[9]
Awards
In October 2008, the Crown Comfort won the Good Design Award in the long life design award category.[10]
In 2010, the model was named by Akio Toyoda, the president of Toyota, as the winner of the “President’s Prize”: an internal, semi-official corporate award. The company explained: “The car itself is unspectacular but it is very important to Toyota. This is why Morizo chose the car for the first ‘Morizo award,’... the car can be driven over the years by everybody from beginners to experts. And this is the proof that the car is the symbol of Toyota's quality, durability and reliability”. Morizo is the driver name and blogging alter ego adopted by Mr. Toyoda, a motor sports enthusiast.[11]
Technical specifications
The Comfort uses MacPherson strut independent front suspension and a coil-sprung solid rear axle.[10] Most Comforts were powered by either the 2L diesel engine or an LPG engine which, at the end of the Comfort's production, was the 1998 cc 1TR-FPE engine, producing 83 kW (113 PS) at 4,800 rpm.[12] Petrol engines, including the six-cylinder 1G, and mild hybrid drivetrains were available for some versions in the Japanese market.
YXS10/LXS10 — The YXS10/LXS10 was the first vehicle to be identified as the Crown Comfort. The Y prefix denotes that it uses a Y-series engine (LPG) and the L prefix denotes that it uses an L-series engine (diesel). It also boasted a lever-activated remote control rear passenger door, and a 4-speed automatic transmission (A43D) became standard in 2004 in some markets. The LXS10 is an export-only vehicle equipped with the naturally aspirated 2L diesel motor, with a column-mounted 4-speed/floor-mounted 5-speed manual transmission only.
YXS11/YXS11Y ー The 11 series denotes a short-wheelbase version, identified as Toyota Comfort (without the word Crown on the nameplate) in Japan. At 2680 mm, its wheelbase is 100 mm shorter than that of the 10 series. The Y suffix denotes that the car is a driver's education vehicle.
LXS11/LXS11Y ー The LXS11/LXS11Y are powered by the 2L-TE Turbodiesel engine. It was sold from 1996 to 1999, but was ultimately phased out in favour of the petrol-powered S-engined cars.
LXS12 ー The LXS12 is an export-only Crown Comfort equipped with a naturally aspirated 5L diesel engine and a column-mounted 4-speed/floor-mounted 5-speed manual transmission.
SXS11Y/SXS13Y ー The SXS11Y is powered by the 4S-FE motor, and was made from 1996 to 2001. The SXS11Y was replaced by the SXS13Y powered by the 3S-FE in 2001. These models were only offered to driving schools, and the TRD Comfort GT-Z Supercharger is based on the SXS13Y.
GXS10/GXS12 ー The GXS10/GXS12 are powered by the 6-cylinder 1G engine. All GXS10 models were equipped with the LPG-fuelled 1G-GPE, while the petrol-fuelled 1G-FE was added as an option for the GXS12. The GXS10 designation denotes a Super Deluxe model manufactured before August 2001 and sold under the Crown Comfort nameplate, while GXS12 denotes a Super Deluxe model manufactured from August 2001 onwards and sold under the Crown Sedan nameplate.[10][6]
GBS12 ー The GBS12 is a mild hybrid version of the petrol-powered Crown Sedan Super Deluxe manufactured between October 2002 and April 2008.[6]
TSS10/TSS11/TSS13 ー The TSS10/TSS11 are powered by the 1TR-FPE engine, while the export-only TSS13 is powered by the 1TR-FRE (HK).
| Engine | SOHC 3Y-PE inline-four, 1,998 cc (LPG) DOHC 1TR-FPE inline-four, 1,998 cc (LPG) DOHC 1TR-FRE inline-four, 1,998 cc (LPG-HK) DOHC 1G-GPE inline-six, 1,998 cc (LPG) |
| Bore and stroke | 86mm x 86mm |
| Maximum power | 79 PS (58 kW) at 4,400 rpm (3Y-PE) 113 PS (83 kW) at 4,800 rpm (1TR-FPE) 114 PS (84 kW) at 4,800 rpm (1TR-FRE) |
| Maximum torque | 160 N⋅m (118 lb⋅ft) at 2,400 rpm (3Y-PE) 186 N⋅m (137 lb⋅ft) at 3,600 rpm (1TR-FPE) 189 N⋅m (139 lb⋅ft) at 3,600 rpm (1TR-FRE) |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic 4-speed manual 5-speed manual |
Equipment
While the Comfort shares its platform with the X80 Mark II, its body was thoroughly redesigned to increase interior space with an emphasis on rear passenger comfort.[10] To reduce unnecessary cost and weight while provisioning for the installation of taxi equipment, the more luxurious dashboard and interior fittings of the Mark II were replaced with a modified version of the base S130 Crown's dashboard and less bulky all-plastic fittings with very simple designs.
Trim levels
- Standard ー included steel wheels (initially 14-inch, later 15-inch), ABS, a driver's airbag, three-point seat belts, air conditioning, a radio with two dash-mounted speakers, vinyl interior upholstery and power steering.
- Deluxe ー added cloth seating surfaces; power locks, mirrors and windows were optional.
- SG ー added standard power features, faux wood interior trim, full cloth interior upholstery and optional 15-inch alloy wheels from the V30 Camry.
- Super Deluxe ー added more upscale exterior styling with wider taillights and chrome-finished versions of the optional alloy wheels; interior equipment included a premium dashboard and interior fittings, more luxurious cloth upholstery and an upgraded audio system with door-mounted speakers. Super Deluxe models were marketed under the Crown Comfort nameplate before August 2001 and the Crown Sedan nameplate from August 2001 onwards. Six-cylinder engines were only available in Super Deluxe models.
Comforts configured for driver's education use were only offered in the Deluxe trim level and are equipped with an additional set of instructor's pedals on the passenger side and an auxiliary speedometer in the centre of the instrument panel. A radio delete option was offered for the driver's education model.
In 2002, the Crown Sedan received an updated dashboard with a more elegant design and standard passenger's airbag. In late 2007, a minor update was made to the Comfort's emissions system to meet more stringent emission standards set by Toyota, while the use of LED lights for instrument panel illumination was increased. In Hong Kong, the Comfort was slightly restyled by adopting the wider taillights used on the Japanese market Super Deluxe. All Comforts later gained a passenger's airbag and start-stop system as standard equipment; the latter was offered exclusively in the Japanese market.
TRD Comfort GT-Z Supercharger
The TRD Comfort GT-Z Supercharger was a limited production high-performance model made from July 2003 until February 2004. Total production of this version was 59 units.[13]
It was equipped with the 3S-FE type DOHC 2.0 L inline-four petrol engine fitted with an ORC-TX07 supercharger, producing 160 PS (118 kW) at 6100 rpm and 22.5 kg⋅m (221 N⋅m) at 3300 rpm.
Gallery
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Toyota Comfort driver's education car in Japan.
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Toyota Comfort taxicab in Japan.
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Toyota Crown Comfort taxicab in Hong Kong.
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Toyota Crown Comfort taxicab in Singapore.
References
- ^ "Kanto Auto Works, Ltd". Japan: Kanto Auto Works, Ltd. Archived from the original on 2012-03-10.
- ^ "Affiliates (Toyota wholly-owned subsidiaries)-Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc". Toyota. 2012. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
- ^ a b c d "Partial engine assembly for Toyota CROWN COMFORT LXS10 1996...1999". MegaZip online shop. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
- ^ "History of Toyota - 75 years - Mark II vehicle lineage". Toyota. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
- ^ a b "TOYOTA INTRODUCES CROWN COMFORT AND COMFORT FOR TAXI USE | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website". global.toyota. Retrieved Sep 9, 2021.
- ^ a b c "History of Toyota - 75 years - Crown vehicle lineage". Toyota. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ^ Nishimoto, Alex (2017-10-23). "Toyota JPN Taxi is Japan's New Hybrid Cab". Motor Trend. US. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
- ^ Toh, Yong Chuan (2014-09-08). "End of the road for Toyota Crown cabs after 32 years, Transport News & Top Stories". The Straits Times. Singapore. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
- ^ Ong, Tanya (2018-11-15). "Toyota Crown taxi, claimed to be 1 of last 2 in S'pore, spotted casually hanging out in Simei". Mothership. Singapore. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
- ^ a b c d "History of Toyota - 75 years - Crown Comfort vehicle lineage". Toyota. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ^ Yoree Koh (2011-03-10). "Toyota Chief: I'll Take the Taxi". Wall Street Journal-Japan Real Time blog.
- ^ "Comfort Specs". Toyota. 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-12-16. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
- ^ "Is This Supercharged Toyota Taxi The Most Ridiculous Performance Car Ever Made?". Jalopnik. 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
External links
- Crown Motors (Hong Kong) Toyota Comfort page (LWB)
- Toyota Comfort page (Japanese)
- Toyota Crown Comfort page (Japanese)
